Comparative analyses of coated and composite UN fuel - Monte Carlo based full core LWR study

A validated model of Benchmark for Evaluation and Validation of Reactor Studies (BEAVRS) is used to perform all the analyses. Integral neutron physics parameters like neutron energy spectra, Radial Peaking Factors, Axial Peaking Factor, Doppler coefficient of reactivity, Isothermal Coefficient of reactivity and Temperature defect, Control Rod worth and excess reactivity for whole core are compared at Beginning of Cycle (BoC). Burnup obtained by different fuel option is also compared. Consistent with pin-cell based earlier findings, this full 3D analyses with UN based fuel shows noticeable spectral hardening leading to decrease in the value of control rod worth and less negative Doppler coefficient of reactivity while power peaking factors remain mostly unchanged. The economic advantage of switching to UN based fuels is expected when UN fuel above 80% TD is used. Approximately 19% increase in Equivalent Full Power Days (EFPDs) is witnessed by using 95% TD UN based fuels.